The Edinburgh Steroid Clinic is a specialist NHS clinic that was set up to provide a service for people using image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs). These include androgens formerly known as anabolic-androgenic steroids. This service is for adults only, aged 18 years and over.
When
The clinic operates every Monday, except public holidays, between 1700 and 1900 for harm reduction around IPED use. This clinic operates by appointments and has a drop in. If too many attend for the drop in, then you will be asked to re present on another Monday evening.
Appointment time slots are 1730, 1815, and 1900 hours.
Public Holidays: Monday 21st April 2025 – There will be no clinic on this date
Where
Spittal Street Centre
(Lady Lawson Street Entrance)
22-24 Spittal Street
Edinburgh
EH3 9DU
Spittal Street is within the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone. Low Emission Zone – The City of Edinburgh Council. You may incur a charge.
What
Like other harm reduction services, all services provided at the steroid clinic are done so confidentially and anonymously, therefore, no information is stored on medical records or shared with any other services. At this clinic, healthcare professionals can provide:
- Harm reduction advice such as alternatives to steroid use, safer injecting, side-effect minimisation, safer dosaging advice, advice around post-cycle therapy drugs, and advice about individual steroids and other image and performance enhancing drugs.
- Provision of sterile injecting equipment.
- Mid-cycle and post-cycle blood tests. The tests offered are to check hormone levels which can be negatively affected by steroid use such as testosterone, luteinising hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and oestrogen, as well as blood tests for cholesterol levels, kidney, liver and prostate functions, and full blood counts. We will also provide a baseline blood test for those who are thinking of using steroids.
- Free condoms via the C:Card service.
- Support to stop using.
- Assistance with physical health or mental health concerns.
Edinburgh Steroid Advice Leaflet is available for some basic harm reduction information.
Please note
If you are using androgens and attending for mid-cycle blood tests please ensure that you are at least half way through your current cycle.
If you are using androgens and attending the clinic for post-cycle blood tests please ensure that if you are using a post cycle therapy that you have finished this by at least two weeks.
If you are using androgens and not using a post-cycle therapy, usage has ceased for a minimum of 4 weeks before attending for post-cycle blood tests.
In addition to those using IPEDs, some people use hormones for gender related matters. If you are using hormones in this way, you should contact your GP or one of the services listed below for information and support.
Appointments for this can no longer be offered by Spittal Street clinic, but there are several ways you can still get support.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Please note, some services will only see people who live in their geographical catchment area.
Recommended websites and agencies for further support/ information:
- Lothian Gender Identity Clinic, Lothian Sexual Health, The Chalmers Centre
2A Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9ES
Phone: 0131 536 1070
- Sandyford Sexual Health Service
3 Sandtford Place, Glasgow G3 7NB
Phone: 0141 211 8130
- The World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Volume 7 Standards of care
- No. 6 – Trans gender support worker for those on the autism spectrum
24 Hill Street
Edinburgh EH2 3JZ
Ph: 0131 220 1075
- LGBT Health and Wellbeing, 4 Duncan Place, Leith
Edinburgh EH6 8HW
LGBT Helpline: 0300 123 2523
Email: helpline@lgbthealth.org.uk
- Recommended website for practical information patients :
- Mermaids – a charity that supports trans, non binary and gender diverse children
- SScottish Transgender Alliance
Contact
For Appointments, please call: 0131 537 8300
For General Enquiries, please email: IPED.Clinic@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
